Name:
Block:
Date:
AP Biology 12 – Kidney Dissection
Purpose:
 To understand the structures of the kidney and relate it to their functions.
 To use the dissecting microscope to compare the structure of the renal cortex and renal medulla.
Introduction:
1. Renal capsule: A smooth semitransparent membrane that adheres tightly to the outer surface of the kidney.
2. Renal cortex: The region of the kidney just below the
capsule. In a fresh kidney the colour of the cortex will be
reddish brown.
3. Renal medulla: The region deeper into the kidney,
beneath the cortex layer. In a fresh kidney it is more red in
coIour than the cortex. It is segregated into triangular and
columnar regions. The triangular regions are the renal
pyramids, which should be striated (or striped) in
appearance due to the collecting ducts running through
them. The columnar regions between the pyramids are the
renal columns. These renal columns are where the
interlobar arteries are located.
4. Renal pelvis: A cavity within the kidney that is
continuous with the ureter, which exits from the hilus. The
pelvis has portions that extend towards the apexes of the
renal pyramids. The primary (large) extensions are the
major calyces and the smaller extensions are the minor calyces.
Procedure:
*use the questions to guide your dissection
Observation: external anatomy
1. Observe the renal capsule and adipose capsule. Find the renal hilus. This is the “pinched-in” area where renal
blood vessels and the ureter attach to the kidney. Describe the renal hilus. Can you tell the difference between
the renal artery, renal vein, and ureter? What do each of them look like?
*if the renal capsule is present...
2. How does the renal capsule look and feel? What do you think the function of the renal and adipose capsules
are?
Carefully, using the forceps, pinch the renal capsule and make a small incision with the scissors to start a hole in
the capsule. Using the scissors and forceps, remove the capsule.
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Dissection: internal anatomy
1. CAREFULLY, cut the kidney in half making a frontal
section. You will start your incision on the side of the
kidney opposite of the hilus and carefully make your way
through the cortex, medulla, pelvis, ureter and renal
blood vessels.
Use the labeled picture to the right to identify the cortex,
renal column, medullary (renal) pyramid, minor calyx,
major calyx and renal pelvis. Use the dull probe to gently
probe the structures and see how they are connected to
each other. How many different kinds of tissue can you
see and feel? In what way are they different?
2. Label the following parts of the kidney with the coloured pins:
Structure
renal cortex
renal column
medullary pyramid
minor calyx
Colour
blue
black
yellow
white
Structure
major calyx
renal pelvis
renal vein
renal artery
Colour
red
green
clear
#1
3. In what part of the kidney do you expect to see the most nephrons?
4. Slice off a very thin section of the renal cortex, place it under the dissecting microscope (in a dissecting dish).
Sketch in the space below. Follow the same procedure with a section of the renal medulla. Label your sketches!
Renal cortex
Magnification:____
Renal medulla
Magnification:_____
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Discussion Questions:
1. What gives the renal pyramids their striped appearance?
2. What are the calyces?
3. What structures are found in the renal columns?
4. Which area of the kidney contains the glomeruli and Bowman’s capsules?
5. On the diagram below, label the following structures: glomerulus, Bowman’s capsule, proximal tubule, loop of
Henle, collecting duct, and renal pelvis. Second, use color pencils and shade each structure a different color.
Finally, label the following blood vessels: afferent arteriole, efferent arteriole, peritubular capillaries, and vasa
recta. (Question #16 from the Ch 44 AP Reading Guide)
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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Kidney Dissection Assessment:
Criteria
Dissection Labeling
Beginning
Developing
Accomplished
Exemplary
Many structures are
incorrectly labeled or not
labeled at all
The majority (more than
half) of structures
accurately labeled
Almost all structures
accurately labeled
All structures accurately
labeled
Diagrams
-Magnification is not
correctly identified
-Magnification is identified
but not correct
-Magnification is correctly
identified, but the diagrams
are at different
magnifications
-Magnification is correctly
identified and both
diagrams are at the same
magnification
-Nephrons are not
identified and/or labeled
- Nephrons are incorrectly
identified and/or labeled
- Nephrons are correctly
identified and labeled in
one drawing but not the
other
- Nephrons are correctly
identified and labeled
- Diagram is not realistic
- Diagram is not neat
- Diagram is neat and
realistic, but not drawn in
pencil
- Diagram is neat and
realistic and drawn in pencil
- Does not demonstrate
a basic understanding of
concept. Substantial
errors throughout.
-Basic understanding of
concepts. Errors and
inconsistency reveal
some missing elements.
-Solid understanding of
concepts. Most answers
are correct. Few errors.
-Complete and in depth
understanding of
concepts. Answers are
correct, with elegant
connections.
Observation
and
Discussion
Questions
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